Neighbourly

We’re at a pivotal time for UK politics. The past five days since the announcement of the Labour win have been awash with headlines and speculations about what the future now holds for the economy, foreign policy, the NHS, business, education, transport, environment and more. 

The current levels of poverty and hardship in the UK were no doubt a central factor in Labour’s election win, despite campaign groups pointing out a stark lack of focus from either side on the issue of hardship. Last week Neighbourly joined hundreds of charities in pushing for poverty to be top of the Prime Minister’s priorities from day one, in a campaign led by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Their research commissioned with Nuffield College Politics Research Centre showed that 39% of voters (18.5 million people) feel economically insecure with concerns over outgoings for housing, childcare and debt.

When Keir Starmer presented the Labour Party’s general election manifesto, there was an emphasis on a commitment to prioritising “wealth creation” and economic growth, with an aim to improve living standards for working people. We were interested in taking a closer look at how the proposed changes may affect our communities through some key policy areas:

Economic stability

• Labour's emphasis on economic stability through strict fiscal rules and the creation of the "Office for Value for Money" may lead to more targeted investments that directly benefit local economies

Education

• Investment in education, such as recruiting 6,500 new teachers, enhancing vocational training and updating the curriculum, and plans to open Technical Excellence Colleges aims to give people specialist skills in the fields their local area most requires

Energy and the environment

• The establishment of Great British Energy and investments in clean energy could bring new economic opportunities to small communities, particularly those in rural areas 
• The focus on renewable energy may also reduce energy costs, contributing to overall economic resilience​

Law and Order 

• Recruiting 13,000 more neighbourhood police and setting up youth hubs aims to combat antisocial behaviour and improve community safety 

Employment

• A new combined national jobs and careers service would bring together Jobcentre Plus and the careers service –to help people find better-paid work
• The “growth and skills levy” aims to give companies more freedom to use up to half of government funding to cover apprenticeships or provide training for existing staff

The vision laid out offers a glimpse into a future aimed at inclusive growth and sustainable development for local communities. In the Chancellor’s first speech on Monday the clear message was one of growth in order to fix the foundations, with Reeves saying ‘Our manifesto was clear: sustained economic growth is the only route to improving the prosperity of our country and the living standards of working people.’

But what about the pressing issue of poverty? The Labour manifesto pledged to ”develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty", including introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school. It also says it wants “to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels", albeit with a lack of specifics on how this would be achieved. 

The promise to balance the economy in favour of working people, combined with expectations of a forthcoming solid poverty strategy is creating optimism for many. There’s no doubt that funding shortfalls and underinvestment inherited from previous years mean there will still be a critical need in communities for months to come, but there’s good reason to remain positive. Moreover, the business case for corporations to support and build thriving communities where all stakeholders benefit remains clear.

The past year has brought immense challenges for communities across the UK and Ireland. From the persistent cost-of-living crisis to funding constraints, local charities and good causes have been at the forefront, tirelessly supporting those in need. Neighbourly's May 2024 Community Survey provides a vital snapshot into the realities on the ground.

Hearing about these challenges can seem overwhelming, but we also hear many stories of great local resilience and success. We gather and present these insights to aid our understanding of the challenges and the ways that we can collaboratively support.

The Increasing tide of need

Nearly 4 out of 5 respondents (78%) report a surge in demand over the past three months. On average, each charity or community group is supporting 374 people per week, which is tracking fairly consistently from previous quarters. However, in this survey we found out that due to capacity and funding limitations, 47% are being forced to turn individuals away, unable to meet the growing needs.

For food banks and other food-aid organisations specifically, the numbers are particularly interesting - showing that an average of 45 people per week are going unsupported. Across Neighbourly's network of over 5,000 such causes, an estimated 225,000 people are going unsupported each week due to lack of resources - equivalent to the entire population of Westminster. Extrapolated up nationally, these figures are potentially huge. As the Leg Up Foundation in Doncaster told us, "Foodbank demand remains strong, with people from all walks of life – employed and unemployed looking for help."

A perfect storm of challenges

The cost-of-living crisis continues to be a primary driver, with 79% of respondents anticipating it will persist or worsen throughout the year. Compounding this are cuts to local authority funding, with 88% of organisations already feeling the impact and prompting concerns from groups like Southampton Street Pastors, who have seen their council funding slashed, with more cuts looming; “The local authority has traditionally made up 40% of our funding. This sum has just been slashed by 25% for this financial year and will be halved again the following year. In 26/27 it will cease.” Limited financial resilience adds further precarity, as 38% report their financial position has deteriorated. The toll is evident, with 80% worried about the health and wellbeing of staff and volunteers due to the unrelenting workload.

A shortage of resources

Paradoxically, while needs have spiked, 44% of causes cite a decrease in food and product donations over the past three months. The most requested items illuminate the breadth of community needs with food being the most needed item, followed by toiletries and personal care items, household products, baby care products and kitchen/cooking items. From pet supplies and children's toys to clothing and craft materials, the list continues, underscoring the diverse array of support needs.

On the volunteering front, demands for delivery drivers, gardeners, administrators, and marketing assistance topped the rankings. Remote-friendly roles like befriending services, financial guidance and programme delivery were also areas of need.

The AI frontier

As new technologies like generative AI emerge, 64% of respondents admitted being unsure of where to start or having not yet explored its potential. This highlights a knowledge gap that may hinder these organisations from harnessing innovations to bolster efficiency and impact. Our new DigitalBridge remote volunteering campaign aims to help tackle the digital divide, by facilitating the transfer of digital expertise and beginner AI knowledge from employee volunteers at multiple partner companies into Neighbourly's charity network, supported by online resources curated by Microsoft. Last year’s Charity Digital Skills report shows that charities increasingly have a growing interest in leveraging emerging technologies like AI and ChatGPT, enabling them to reduce administrative workloads and spend more time on strategy.

A call for collaborative action

The findings from this survey are a rallying cry for collective efforts. Local charities and community groups are the backbone of support systems, and increased awareness, resourcefulness and creative solutions will be critical to their ongoing sustainability.

Political decisions will also determine the economic landscape they operate in. This week Neighbourly joined hundreds of charities in pushing for hardship to be top of the Prime Minister’s priorities from day one, in a campaign led by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Their research commissioned with Nuffield College Politics Research Centre shows voters' worries about economic insecurity are set to play a pivotal role in how they vote in the upcoming election - 39% of voters (18.5 million people) feel economically insecure with concerns over outgoings for housing, childcare and debt.

Whether the incoming government will set out a plan to help provide immediate relief to struggling families and commit to an ambitious strategy for the improvement of living standards remains to be seen. As businesses, we can continue to support through responsible resource allocation, volunteer mobilisation and partnerships that will champion grassroots organisations and empower them to continue their vital work.

Neighbourly has partnered with Aldi to launch a new “Spring” fund for emergency provision to families in need across the UK.

Qualifying charities in the Neighbourly network, including baby banks and children’s centres, will be able to access microgrants of £500 to help them provide immediate aid to struggling families. This comes as cost-of-living payments to help with high energy and food bills have come to an end, leaving many families across the UK vulnerable.

While the Chancellor announced in the budget that the Household Support Fund would be extended, many say that the failure to continue the fund past October will lead to an increase in families being unable to meet their basic needs in the winter.

New research by Pro Bono Economics (PBE) and Nottingham Trent University has shown that since 2010, there has been a £13.bn reduction in council funds to charities, while a number of councils are now facing bankruptcy. This is further compounded by individual donations to local charities also being in decline due to the cost-of-living crisis. 

Neighbourly’s latest Winter community survey highlighted that 83% of good causes focused on supporting families and children had seen an increase in demand for their services over the past 3 months, triggering Neighbourly to initiate the fund as financial strains persist. 

The current fund will support approximately 136 charities across the country, with other businesses also invited to join forces and help provide emergency support to those worst affected. 

Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi, said:

“Our giving programme with Neighbourly is multifaceted and since we began working together in 2019, we’re proud to have donated £750,000 to the Neighbourly Foundation, along with over 46 million meals through our surplus scheme, with a value of £78 million.

“We know that challenging times continue for local communities, with economic pressures persisting, meaning we are more committed than ever to doing what we can to give back

“We hope the grants will give charities across the country a much-needed boost but also encourage others to join forces to help our local communities at this time.”

Anita Rao of Wesley Hall Community Centre in Leicester, a previous recipient of a Neighbourly community fund grant, said:

“Our community centre is based in a deprived area of the city. These sorts of grants help people to see the light in the tunnel. It makes such a difference in the local community – people feel that there is someone to care for them.”

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, said:

“We’re proud to continue to partner with Aldi and launch this new initiative which will allow us to provide vital aid to charities across the country as many families are being pushed into poverty and destitution. With the support of more businesses, we hope that we will be able to help even more charitable organisations.”

For more information about pledging support as a business, email businessresponse@neighbourly.com

Today, March 8th is International Women's Day, a global celebration of the achievements and contributions of women and an opportunity to recognise the challenges still faced today.

In honour of this important day, we're spotlighting five incredible charities who are part of the Neighbourly network that are dedicated to empowering women, providing support and creating positive change in their lives. These organisations go beyond the ordinary, working tirelessly to support women and champion their rights. 

Bloody Good Period: Ending Period Poverty

Addressing the often-overlooked issue of period poverty, Bloody Good Period works to ensure that women have access to menstrual products. This charity tackles the stigma surrounding menstruation and advocates for policy changes to make hygiene essentials accessible to all.

Maggie Neil House 

This vital women’s refuge based in Northing Yorkshire, provides emergency accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic abuse, with families arriving in only the clothes they are standing up in. It relies on corporate donations and community support to provide them with food and clothes until it is able to secure benefits, and longer term support for them.

Dress for Success: Empowering Women in the Workplace

Dress for Success is dedicated to empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help them thrive in work and life. This organisation recognises the importance of confidence and empowerment in the workplace, and aims to instil this via the support it provides. 

Stop the Traffick Group

Working to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) globally through their innovative intelligence-led approach, Stop the Taffick’s mission is to create a world where people are not bought or sold, by undermining the three pillars upon which human trafficking relies; the recruitment of vulnerable people, the demand for exploited labour, and the ability to launder proceeds of crime through legitimate financial institutions. 

The Halo Project 

The Halo Project is a new project based in the North East of England, which supports victims of honour-based violence and forced marriages by providing appropriate advice and support. The programme of work with key partners will also provide required interventions and advice necessary for the protection and safety of victims.

This International Women's Day, let's celebrate the remarkable work of these charities, and say a big thank-you to the Neighbourly partners providing them with support. Every product supplied, donation made, or hour of volunteering time provided helps contribute to a more inclusive and equitable world for women everywhere. Together, we can make a difference.

There are many exciting things that have happened at Neighbourly over the years and at the end of 2023, we were delighted to be invited to join Microsoft’s Entrepreneurs for Positive Impact (EfPI) Accelerator programme for 2024. The Programme is part of the company's broader efforts to support entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups focused on creating positive social and environmental impact. 

Our proposition of helping companies do more to support the communities they serve, socially and environmentally aligns closely with the programme’s goals, and with Neighbourly’s tech stack and impact dashboards, there is an excellent fit. 

The programme provides dedicated mentorship, guidance, resources, and networking opportunities. As well as tapping into the extensive resources at Microsoft’s disposal it’s also an opportunity for like-minded businesses and individuals to come together and share knowledge and resources. 

Last week, our COO Zoë Colosimo was invited to Microsoft's London HQ along with other leading change makers from the programme: Granular Energy, Hello Lamp Post, and MeVitae to talk about AI for Social and Environmental Innovation.

It was an inspiring and insightful day, packed with positive conversations on how AI can be harnessed as a force for good, and the potential for private and public sector to collaborate and learn from each other in this field.

The EfPI Accelerator program forms part of Microsoft’s #BuildFor2030 Initiative, which aims to progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Microsoft also became a signatory to the Rise Ahead Pledge. Signatories commit to take action in time for 2030, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and pledge to create collective, quantitative targets for their activities in time for the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025.

A landmark report, the Corporate Social Innovation Compass, complements the pledge, covering more than 10 mechanisms for companies to partner with social innovators, the benefits and the journey that companies take when engaging with social enterprises. 

As signatories to initiatives like Rise Ahead, Microsoft is demonstrating a long-term commitment to enabling positive change, and we are excited to contribute to that vision.

Watch this space for further updates on our involvement in the Positive Accelerator programme.

This year we’re excited to be working with Coca-Cola on their campaign “The World Needs More Santas”, bringing the magic of Christmas to life by encouraging the embodiment of Santa’s spirit of generosity, goodwill and kindness.

The Coca-Cola Truck Tour is well known for capturing the attention of the nation, and this year they will be continuing their mission of giving with a host of interactive activities for visitors to the Truck to immerse themselves in. As well as gifting areas, gamified experiences, prizes and photo opportunities, visitors will be invited to take part in the ‘Discover Your Inner Santa’ quiz, inspired by Coca-Cola’s TV advert, to find out whether they are a Jolly-Giving Santa, a Merry-Making Santa, the Neighbourly Santa, or the Heart Warming Santa and inspire individuals to embrace this archetype and the spirit of giving this Christmas.

£100,000 fund to be donated to Neighbourly good causes across the 17 cities that the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour will be visiting

As part of our ongoing partnership with Coca-Cola, they will be further supporting the work of local charities with a volunteering scheme and £100,000 fund, to be donated via the Neighbourly Foundation to social-impact focused volunteering partners and good causes across the 17 cities that the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour will be visiting. 

The first stop is Glasgow, on Friday 24th November, where the Neighbourly hero cause is REFUWEEGEE, a charity that has been warmly welcoming refugees and asylum seekers to Glasgow, and Scotland since 2015. At the heart of the organisation is a desire to treat displaced people with dignity and care. The charity does this through providing a safe space for drop-in, emergency food and toiletry packs, a free clothes and household shop, English classes, art-therapy and free haircuts, amongst other activities.

Here at Neighbourly, we’re looking forward to visiting the Truck when it stops in Bristol, supporting SENSE FAMILY CENTRE WOODSIDE, a national disability charity that has been helping people with complex communication needs to be understood, connected and valued for over 60 years. With a simple mission to make sure no one with complex communication needs is isolated, left out or unable to fulfil their potential, Sense supports children, young people and adults in their home, the community and at its centres, from education to transitioning to adulthood through holidays, arts, sport and wellbeing programmes. 

If you would like to help Coca-Cola and Neighbourly deliver acts of kindness to those that need it most in the local community, you can donate to the fund using the link below or visit one of the Truck Tour stops to donate via the QR codes available. Stay tuned for the full Truck schedule on their socials, @CocaColaEU (Instagram) and @CocaCola_GB (Twitter).

In this blog, we take a look at the latest procurement law to have passed in the UK and the effect it’s likely to have on the delivery of social value by private businesses.

On 26 October, The Procurement Act 2023 attained Royal Assent, overturning the current public procurement regime in the UK. The bill regulates how the UK Government and public sector entities purchase goods, services and public infrastructure from private sector suppliers and signifies fundamental structural changes to the current procurement landscape, combining the overarching regimes currently regulating procurement.

The Act brings greater flexibility to contracting authorities, with the aim of making bidding for contracts easier for smaller and more locally focused businesses. It also introduces several new requirements aimed at adding a greater level of transparency to the procurement lifecycle, from planning through to contract expiry.

Looking specifically at social value, what impact will the bill have?

Despite efforts to the contrary, the bill itself does not employ the term “social value”; instead, the government is employing the term “public benefit” as the threshold for the most beneficial tender.

Regardless of this omission, the bill is intended to promote social value in procurement decision-making, requiring contracting authorities to factor environmental sustainability, impact on the local community and the fair treatment of workers into their planning.

The method in which this social value-based criterion is being promoted is through bids being ranked according to the “most advantageous tender” (MAT) approach rather than the “most economically advantageous tender” (MEAT). Under this evaluation method, contracting authorities will be expected to consider social value and wider “public benefit” considerations alongside value for money.

However, the bill does not go further in setting out a clear framework for assessing bids that align with specific social value goals.

For more specific guidance on embedding social value criteria into public tenders, the government’s Procurement Policy Notes published in 2020 and 2021 provide a clearer directive, building directly upon the instrumental Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. This was the first legislation passed in the UK that requires public sector bodies to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social, and environmental well-being of an area.

Under the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, how much weight actually afforded to this consideration was left to the discretion of the government body, which only had to consider the ‘social value’ where it was proportionate, taking all considerations into account. In practice, this meant that social value considerations were often disregarded in favour of other priorities, in particular where there was a short deadline for the procurement.

Procurement Policy Note 06/20 changed this by making social value a mandatory consideration - it must now be ‘explicitly evaluated’ instead of simply ‘considered’. In fact, a minimum weighting of 10% is provided. Alongside the note, the government published a framework of over 50 metrics that all organisations hoping to enter a bid for a public contract, referred to as the “social value model”; these are split into five key groups.

• Covid-19 Recovery
• Tackling economic inequality
• Fighting climate change
• Driving equal opportunity
• Wellbeing

The note and extensive detail on all related metrics can be found here.

This note was followed by a National Procurement Policy Statement in June 2021 which included the following directive. “All contracting authorities should consider the following national priority outcomes alongside any additional local priorities in their procurement activities:”

• creating new businesses, new jobs and new skills;
• tackling climate change and reducing waste, and
• improving supplier diversity, innovation and resilience.

Whilst policy notes and statements are in themselves not legally binding like legislation, their function is to provide background information and context to help interpret and apply new laws, offering guidance to stakeholders and clarifying the scope and limits of legislation.

Therefore, whilst The Procurement Act 2023 does not explicitly reference social value, these proceedings statements and the 2012 Social Value Act clearly signpost an increasing need for these considerations to be at the forefront when considering the “most advantageous tender.”

Whilst much remains open to interpretation, the trend line is clear: social value is increasing in importance, and organisations bidding for public work that are not primed to respond appropriately will increasingly put themselves at a disadvantage when trying to win work.

How can Neighbourly support your organisation in delivering social value?    

At Neighbourly, we have extensive experience supporting organisations in delivering social value at a local level. Our capabilities include;

• Expert consultation on developing a holistic community strategy tied to ESG commitments
• Volunteer matching with local charities and causes based on skills, interests, and availability to meet community needs
• Tools and resources to make volunteering easy to manage, engage employees, and track participation
• Curated volunteering opportunities tailored to contribute to key social impact goals like environment, education, health, and inclusion
• Reporting on social value contributions through volunteering such as skills gained, beneficiaries reached, etc.
• Options to donate funds locally and directly support charity operations and programming
• Solutions to involve business partners like suppliers and customers in shared social initiatives
• Support with storytelling and communications to bring community engagement to life across stakeholders

If you’re interested in having a conversation with a member of our team about how we can support your organisation's social value objectives, get in touch today.

Christmas is all about sharing and bringing people together. To help make the magic happen, Lidl has once again brought back their in-store toy banks, in partnership with Neighbourly, where customers can make donations of unopened toys and gifts. From stocking fillers to something bigger, the toy donations from Lidl customers will be provided to families through our store partnerships with charities, foodbanks and community groups. In-store donation points are open until 16th December.

In a new addition for this year, Lidl plush friends Racoon and Monkey will be available to buy in-store, with all proceeds going to the toy bank charity partners. 

Head down to a local Lidl to support this amazing scheme, until 16th December.

We are proud to share that Neighbourly has been announced as the winner in the Best Leadership in Technology category in the Management Today Business Awards. The awards were created to recognise the role of leadership in driving business performance, celebrating organisations who are defined by a clarity of purpose and dedication to doing business the right way. 

"This is an organisation that operates with strong purpose and will play an increasingly important role in the cost of living crisis"

Management Today highlighted that between Neighbourly's beginnings and the start of 2023, the platform successfully distributed over 118 million meals worth of surplus food, 113,000 volunteer hours, £22 million in funds and 1,800 tonnes of products, saving 185 thousand tonnes of CO2 across the UK and Ireland. Neighbourly has also helped more than 7,000 local charities and community causes in the past year - who in turn support a combined total of over 2.6 million people every week. 

Judge’s feedback highlighted: “This is an organisation that operates with strong purpose and will play an increasingly important role in the cost of living crisis. It’s impressive how it has garnered the support of big players such as Aldi, Lidl and M&S to its cause. A worthy winner and I like the maximisation of existing infrastructure and B Corp status which takes a lot of effort - solid”.

Commenting on the awards, Neighbourly COO Zoe Colosimo said: “I am proud of every step in the Neighbourly journey, but particularly this one for our fantastic team - it’s a testament to the outstanding work and effort of everyone, in what has been a significant year for the business. 

”Thank you to Management Today and the board of judges for celebrating the role of business and technology in driving positive social change and creating impact. We look forward to another year of helping businesses contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of the communities in which they operate.”

• Read more: Neighbourly wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category

Getir, the pioneer of ultrafast grocery delivery, has recently reached a milestone of over one million donated meals from its gstores to local good causes through the Neighbourly platform. 

The partnership, which has been running for a year, has now seen over 420,000 tonnes of food donated to over 330 good causes, like St Mungo's Haringey Recovery Service in London, Wycombe Food Hub and Betel Birmingham.

By redistributing this food, Getir has saved 1,520 tonnes of CO2 and made a total financial impact of over £1.8M to local communities. The whole Getir estate is now live on the Neighbourly platform, providing community organisations and charities with surplus food donations on a regular basis.

Getir’s goal of zero food waste sits amongst a number of initiatives to support their wider sustainability and community ambitions.

Their UK General Manager Chris Chaaya told us; “In light of the ongoing challenges families face with the rising cost of living, we are more committed than ever to providing assistance to those in need. As a company, we strive to be active and valuable in the areas we serve and we’re proud to have reached this incredible milestone within the first year of our partnership with Neighbourly.

This initiative has enabled us to directly benefit those who need it most, via new partnerships with over 330 local charities. It’s brilliant to see our store teams forming great relationships with these community-based organisations, that is something we really encourage.”